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On 20 April, the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Mohammad, reported that four people were burnt to death in their houses, and 42 inmates let loose from the prison in Malumfashi, during the riots that followed the presidential election results, in Katsina State.

Providing a comprehensive report on recent violence in the state, the police commissioner said that in Malumfashi, about 11 houses including Governor Ibrahim Shema’s Campaign Organisation’s office, the homes of the chairman and secretary of the local government council, and the private houses of some chieftains of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were burnt down. Ten vehicles were also set ablaze. The prisoners escaped when the rioters broke into the jail house and drove the prison wardens away.

CP Mohammed said in Funtua, the rioters destroyed or burnt more than seven vehicles, restaurants and private schools.

In Daura, home town of the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, property destroyed included several shops and vehicles.

In Kankara, the rioters set fires to the house of the ex-chairman of Kankara local council, Mamman Sani; the PDP office in the local government; a vehicle parked in the council boss’ house and Governor Shema’s campaign office.

The CP said 15 churches were razed down: Five in Funtua, four in Daura and three in Malumfashi.

The police boss reported that over 107 persons had been arrested in Malumfashi, Funtua, Daura, Kankara, Jibia and Katsina metropolis, in connection with the attack on the prison and the destruction of public and private property. Mohammed said one of the suspects, Abddulkadri Yahaya, 28, while trying to escape arrest, grabbed a pot of boiling groundnut oil from a roadside bean cake fryer, and hurled it at the police officer, Lawal Sani Dansada, who was pursuing him. Dansada is presently in hospital.

The Police Commissioner said those arrested would be charged to court once investigations are completed.